Newly added to our Reel Pieces series is a night with character-actor supreme Philip Seymour Hoffman and his latest film, Capote. We’ve already mentioned the Y connection: Capote’s In Cold Blood debuted for the first time at the 92nd Street Y’s Kaufmann Concert Hall in a surprise reading by the author way back in 1964.

We’ll be screening Capote, of course, and following the movie Hoffman will stick around for a conversation with moderator Annette Insdorf. Hoffman is one of the hardest working actors out there and has taken on some unique roles over the years—it’ll be a treat.

[Reel Pieces: Philip Seymour Hoffman: 01/11/06]

New Yorker regular and beloved food writer Calvin Trillin is one of the go-to authorities on Manhattan’s food scene. At last year’s New Yorker festival, he took visitors on a dining tour of Lower Manhattan that included some spots even we had not heard of before.

What are the highlights of food below 14th Street according to Mr. Trillin? Bleecker Street restaurant Home, pizza at Sullivan Street Bakery, East Broadway’s “Chinese Greens Cart,” cheese shop DiPalo’s, and Chinatown’s New Chao Chow, Fried Dumplings and 88 Palace.

In less than two weeks, Calvin will be at the Y to discuss Restaurants From the Inside Out with TV chef Rocco DiSpirito and eGullet.com founder Steven Shaw.

[Restaurants From the Inside Out: 01/12/06]

Reuters and Time both recently posted their best photos of 2005 [via Kottke]. Some stunning work.

And we’ve got a full slate of photography classes beginning the end of January if you get inspired.